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The Education Gadfly Show

This week, Rick is back with Mike to discuss national testing, student tracking and the opening of a Hebrew-language charter school in Brooklyn. Amber is out of the studio on her research beat, so we move right to Stafford, who takes on segregated pep rallies on Rate That Reform.

This week, Mike and guest host Andy Smarick discuss test scores in New York state, New York City's "learn and earn" program and a 90-year-old woman who just received her high school diploma. Then, Amber tells us about the sham that is teacher evaluations and Stafford takes on high school valedictorians on Rate That Reform.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss the 46-state pledge for national standards, Andrew Coulson's proposal that DC pick up the tab for its dying voucher program, and the place of texting and cell phones in schools. Then, Amber tells us about a depressing new report on teacher self-sorting by student demographics and Stafford cuts the College Board some slack on Rate That Reform.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss the 46-state pledge for national standards, Andrew Coulson's proposal that DC pick up the tab for its dying voucher program, and the place of texting and cell phones in schools. Then, Amber tells us about a depressing new report on teacher self-sorting by student demographics and Stafford cuts the College Board some slack on Rate That Reform.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss New York City's Leadership Academy principals' lackluster results, charter school transparency in Pennsylvania, and whether we should try to encourage lower levels of truancy. Then, Amber tells us about a new Education Sector concept paper (but this isn't the Really Neat Paper Minute, protests Mike!) and Rate that Reform finds yet another incidence of school administrator cowardice on the topic of homosexuality.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss New York City's Leadership Academy principals' lackluster results, charter school transparency in Pennsylvania, and whether we should try to encourage lower levels of truancy. Then, Amber tells us about a new Education Sector concept paper (but this isn't the Really Neat Paper Minute, protests Mike!) and Rate that Reform finds yet another incidence of school administrator cowardice on the topic of homosexuality.

This week, Mike and Stafford discuss Arne Duncan's overtures towards Detroit, whether Massachusetts disproves the argument that teachers' unions stymie reform, and a recent Associated Press article alleging U.S. performance internationally is not as bad as it seems. Then, Amber updates us on a new EdNext public opinion of school spending survey and Mickey (stepping in for Stafford) Rates That ban-offensive-lyrics-at-prom Reform.

This week, Mike and Stafford discuss Arne Duncan's overtures towards Detroit, whether Massachusetts disproves the argument that teachers' unions stymie reform, and a recent Associated Press article alleging U.S. performance internationally is not as bad as it seems. Then, Amber updates us on a new EdNext public opinion of school spending survey and Mickey (stepping in for Stafford) Rates That ban-offensive-lyrics-at-prom Reform.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss possible stimulus-stimulated reforms, whether grades should include more than just content mastery, and if we should letting students who pass their classes and the state test out of school early. Then Amber tells us about a (snooze-inducing) new ETS report on the achievement gap and Rate that Reform encounters Big Brother, school edition.

This week, Mike and Rick discuss possible stimulus-stimulated reforms, whether grades should include more than just content mastery, and if we should letting students who pass their classes and the state test out of school early. Then Amber tells us about a (snooze-inducing) new ETS report on the achievement gap and Rate that Reform encounters Big Brother, school edition.

About the Education Gadfly Show

For more than eight years, the Fordham Institute has been hosting a weekly podcast, The Education Gadfly Show. Each week, you’ll get three lively, entertaining discussions of recent education news, usually featuring Fordham’s Mike Petrilli, with questions read by Ellen Alpaugh. Then the wise Amber Northernwill recap a recent research study.

Download the podcast using the link to the left or subscribe via iTunes.